The Glory of the Tribe

Jiang Xuan hurried back to the tribe, checking the time and lifting his head to see the sky—it was just right.

In fact, even if he had come back in the afternoon, it would still have been in time. Over the past six months, the warriors who had returned to the tribe could at least manage to fight a few rounds. Of course, such sacrifices were unnecessary!
"You—you—"
Shentu Yan couldn't believe what he was seeing as he looked at the figure that suddenly appeared on the platform. Fear flashed in his eyes. He had come up to harvest, originally it wasn’t supposed to be his turn to enter the arena, but now he was already on the stage—and Jiang Xuan had returned!

"Jiang Xuan is still alive!"
"Look at how travel-worn he is, he must have just come down from the mountain."
"He actually escaped from the Ge brothers? How is that possible? The combined strength of the Ge brothers is enough to challenge even the top ten innate experts in Feixue City! If they fought to the death, there is practically no one in the innate realm who can stand against them!"

On one side of the arena stood many spectators from outside, including numerous highly knowledgeable innate guards from the Chen family. They understood better than anyone how terrifying it was to escape from the Ge brothers.
As they discussed, others also began to understand.
Someone even noticed Lei Hong's unusual expression, clearly surprised that Jiang Xuan had made it back alive.

"Shentu Yan, before I killed Shentu Lie, it was always you who led the team to fight to the death. I heard that you are now the deputy clan leader of the Shentu clan—how do you want to die?"
Jiang Xuan stared at Shentu Yan, speaking as he casually untied his bundle of belongings—a collection of wrapped weapons and bundles, all tied together with ropes.
"The Shentu clan originally had three people who had comprehended the will of heaven. Among them, Shentu Lie has died, and now the clan leader, Shentu Long, who was Shentu Lie's uncle and the previous clan leader, had retired due to old age... After Shentu Lie died, he had to return to his position! But he is old now!"

Jiang Xuan tossed his bag toward the Jiang clan's team, continuing to focus on Shentu Yan. "So, you're now the strongest member of the Shentu clan, huh?"
Shentu Yan remained silent, his face expressionless.
Having been killed by Jiang Xuan for over half a year, no one in the Shentu clan had dared to make such bold declarations before their deaths anymore.

"Sir," Jiang Xuan looked toward the high platform.
"Let it begin," Lei Hong nodded.
The scene shifted to a courtyard not far from the tribe’s earthen city and training grounds.

"Yuan Shu, this 'Sword Calamity Book' will be greatly beneficial for your cultivation. You know, books of calamity are rare, often with no price available. I was fortunate enough to intercept this one before it went to auction in Feixue City."
Xie Hanjie held a palm-sized array plate, wanting to hand it to Chen Yuanxuan. "Originally, I planned to give it to you that day, but the incident at Heitan Mountain happened so suddenly, and everyone had to leave in a hurry. This is my intention, you must accept it."
Chen Yuanxuan glanced at the object in Xie Hanjie’s hand but did not take it.
On the other hand, Chen Yuanzhou was visibly moved.

"Lord Xie, we are not related by blood, such a precious gift, I cannot accept," Chen Yuanxuan replied coldly, before walking off to practice sword forms under a nearby tree, leaving Xie Hanjie awkwardly standing there.
Xie Hanjie put the item away with an uneasy look, a flicker of coldness in his eyes.
"Then I shall not disturb you further." Xie Hanjie flicked his sleeve and left.

Once he was completely gone…
"Sister, why didn’t you accept it?"
Chen Yuanzhou walked up to Chen Yuanxuan’s side. "That’s the Sword Calamity Book! A person in the Calamity Realm can only forge one book in their lifetime, containing all of their cultivation insights. Our Chen family has only obtained one in the past ten years, and I used it. If that book had been given to you, you could have entered the Calamity Realm at least three years earlier—you would have already been in the Calamity Realm by now... Such a precious item, Lord Xie is willing to part with it..."

"Exactly because it's so precious that I cannot accept it!" Chen Yuanxuan glared at him.
"But Lord Xie, he... he is...?" Chen Yuanzhou hesitated.
"Do you really not know what Xie Hanjie’s intentions are, or are you pretending not to?" Chen Yuanxuan fixed him with a sharp gaze.

Chen Yuanzhou hesitated even more, but under his sister's piercing stare, he finally spoke, "I know. Xie Hanjie’s master, Lord Zou Kang, will soon finish his term in Feixue City. Once Lord Zou leaves, Xie Hanjie will lose his backing. Although his status won’t fall too much—he’s still the youngest inspector in Feixue City with unlimited prospects—his connections, influence, and cultivation resources will definitely decrease significantly."
"So, he wants to marry into the Chen family. With his status, even as a son-in-law, he won't be looked down upon, treated as a son, and will still have the opportunity to gain your... attention..." Chen Yuanzhou’s voice trailed off.
He was the most talented person in the Chen family and probably the most talented person in Feixue City. He had enough wit to understand everything clearly.

"Since you know..."
"Sister! Although Xie Hanjie has ulterior motives, he might not be insincere toward you. He’s liked you for a long time, and he confessed ten years ago."
Chen Yuanzhou gritted his teeth. "The family insists on finding you a husband, and no one else would be a better choice than Xie Hanjie. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement, both for our Chen family and for Xie Hanjie. It's beneficial for both sides!"

"Family? Xie Hanjie? Mutually beneficial?" Chen Yuanxuan looked at her brother. "And where do I fit in this? Does this concern me?"
"I didn’t mean that..."
Chen Yuanzhou realized his mistake and quickly explained, "I... I was asked by the elders to persuade you. They gave me this task. What I said earlier wasn’t from the heart, don’t take it to heart."

He quickly threw the elders under the bus, hoping his sister wouldn't misunderstand his position.
"Sister, I will support whatever you choose to do. You're my real sister! Just forget everything I said earlier, okay? Don't be angry with me!"
"Support me no matter what?" Chen Yuanxuan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes! No matter what! As long as you say the word! If you want me to bite Xie Hanjie, I will! I’ll bite him to death!" Chen Yuanzhou raised two fingers, swearing an oath.
"At least you have a conscience," Chen Yuanxuan seemed to calm down, giving her brother a mock glare.
Just then, footsteps approached.

"Young Master Yuanzhou, Miss Yuanxuan!" A tall, lean innate guard in his forties hurriedly entered.
"The first battle is over?" Chen Yuanzhou directly asked. Neither he nor Chen Yuanxuan had gone to watch the battle, since it was just the first round, which wasn’t interesting to them. With their realm and understanding, the life-and-death fights of the tribe’s innate warriors were crude and unrefined. Even if the former Black Abyss Mountain first warrior, Jiang Hanfeng, were still alive, his strength wouldn't be a match for Chen Yuanzhou.
There was no value in watching.

The siblings had already agreed to only attend the final battle in the afternoon, where the important thing wasn’t the fight itself, but witnessing the process of the large tribe being absorbed.
"It’s over."
The tall innate guard nodded. "Jiang Xuan is back. Shentu Yan was killed in three breaths, with no ability to fight back."

"Huh?!!"
"Jiang Xuan?"
"He’s still alive?"

The siblings’ expressions shifted as they realized they had missed a great spectacle. After exchanging a glance, both vanished like shadows.
At the training grounds.
By the time the siblings arrived, the Shentu clan's team was in complete silence, with someone already on the platform quietly collecting Shentu Yan’s body.

The spectators from outside were in a flurry of exclamations and discussions.
"Young Master Yuanzhou."
"Miss Yuanxuan."

Over a dozen of the Chen family’s innate guards noticed their arrival, made way, and crowded around, explaining what had just happened.
"Chasing Wind Style really lives up to its name. Shentu Yan, who had comprehended the will of heaven, couldn’t even last three breaths!"
"His cultivation has already reached the late innate stage. His growth speed is terrifying."

"He's a monstrous genius, worthy of entering the Starry Hall!"
"Under such fame, there are no false talents. Even though Heitan Mountain is backward, its first innate warrior still has some real ability!"
Chen Yuanzhou listened to his subordinates praising Jiang Xuan and couldn't help but feel excited.

His eyes sparkled with anticipation.
He came to the Jiang clan specifically to challenge Jiang Xuan's Chasing Wind Blade. The stronger Jiang Xuan was, the more famous he became, and the more beneficial it would be for him. The impact of defeating Jiang Xuan would be even greater!
Both siblings looked toward the Jiang clan’s team.

A large crowd surrounded a figure in the center, cheering loudly. The tribe’s women were enthusiastic and cheerful. It was even possible to hear a woman shout, "Clan leader, I want to bear your children!" It was clearly a joke, but it showed how much the people of the tribe adored their leader.
"Let’s go. Let’s head over," Chen Yuanzhou flicked open his folding fan and led his people around the platform toward the Jiang clan.
When the surrounding Jiang clan members saw them approaching, they immediately made way.

"Clan Leader Jiang! I’ve heard so much about you! I am Chen Yuanzhou from the first family of Feixue City, here to pay my respects!"
Jiang Xuan, who was speaking with Grandma Jin Hua, turned around.
He saw a group of innate experts, followed by a man and a woman exuding noble airs.

"The Chen family of Feixue City, Chen Yuanzhou and his sister Yuanxuan, arrived last month and have been staying in the earth city. During the few days you were missing, they even searched the mountains for the Ge brothers. They only returned last night… I’ve heard that both siblings are the top geniuses of Feixue City! Chen Yuanzhou has come to challenge your ninth style of the Chasing Wind Blade…" While Jiang Xuan turned to look at them approaching, Jiang Cuiyun whispered in his ear.
Jiang Xuan listened, remaining composed, but a strange emotion flashed in his eyes.
"Chen Yuanxuan… weren’t we supposed to never meet again? It seems we truly are destined. I should pretend not to know her," Jiang Xuan thought to himself, making sure not to look at Chen Yuanxuan for too long, focusing his attention on Chen Yuanzhou instead.

Chen Yuanzhou gave a polite bow, slightly literary in his demeanor.
"Young Master Chen, it’s a pleasure!" Jiang Xuan responded with a bow in return.
"Heard a lot about you. Clan Leader Jiang is much more refined than I imagined, a handsome young…" Before Chen Yuanzhou could finish, he was interrupted by an angry outburst.

"What are you saying?"
"Who are you calling refined?"
"Are you insulting him?"

Hundreds of Jiang clan members were furious. In their tribe, calling a man "refined" was an offense, especially when it was the clan leader.
The Jiang clan’s reaction made the Chen family’s guards instinctively grip their weapons.
Chen Yuanzhou quickly raised his hand, trying to calm things down. "Uh… what I meant was, Clan Leader Jiang is a handsome young man…" In his mind, the men of the tribe were all rough, with some even looking like they were in their twenties at fifteen, their aura being that of rough and rugged men.

"I understand what you mean," Jiang Xuan also gestured for calm.
"Clan Leader Jiang, I heard that you were hunted by the Ge brothers in Heitan Mountain…" Chen Yuanzhou continued. "To be honest, our Chen family has a blood feud with the Ge brothers. After hearing their whereabouts, we also went into the mountains to search, but we found nothing."